INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — An Indianapolis veterinarian wants to make sure that area pet owners make the appropriate arrangements for their animals to receive grooming, vaccinations and other wellness care before the holiday activity begins. According to Dr. Mike Graves of Binford Pet Wellness Clinic, grooming becomes a highly sought-after service for the holiday season, while up-to-date vaccinations are a prerequisite for pet boarding, another popular option at this time of year. “We want people to know that now is the time to make these arrangements, before all the available slots are reserved,” he says.

Dr. Graves explains that many pet owners who may not normally prioritize grooming suddenly recognize the need for it as the holiday season looms on the calendar. “People who are getting ready to receive guests or throw holiday parties often realize that their pet has a matted, shaggy coat, jagged toenails or a serious odor problem,” he says. The vet adds that this belated concern places a strain on the clinic’s grooming services as all reservations become quickly filled. As a result, many pets do not receive the baths, haircuts, anal gland expression, toenail trimming or other essential grooming services they need in time to greet guests.

Grooming matters for more than purely aesthetic reasons, Dr. Graves is quick to point out. “Dogs and cats who are overdue from a grooming session may also be missing out on an important wellness inspection, because it gives us a chance to look for skin issues, eye or ear infections, parasitic infestations and other potential health problems,” he says. The clinic tries to communicate the need to book grooming appointments early, usually by sending out emails to its clientele. Even so, argues the vet, pets should receive proper grooming as a critical aspect of their wellness care, regardless of the season.

Dr. Graves also tries to impress on clients the need to schedule all required vaccinations or vaccination updates in advance of the holidays, especially if owners plan to board their pets while they travel. He notes that most boarding facilities require documented proof that all a pet’s core vaccinations are up to date before accepting the pet into the facility, for the sake of the other boarders’ health. “It is important to schedule all vaccinations before the date of your boarding reservation, or your pet may end up with no place to stay and no one to take care of him,” he warns. The Indianapolis veterinarian adds that his clinic will attempt to provide as many vaccinations as possible between now and the holidays.

In addition to pet grooming and vaccinations, Binford Pet Wellness Clinic offers a variety of other services such as dental care, spay and neuter surgery, pest prevention, microchipping and emergency treatment for Indianapolis pets.

Regular grooming helps prepare the coat and skin for the harsh weather ahead. That dead hair needs to come out one way or the other — better on a brush than your clothing and furniture. Plus your pet will feel and look great.

Imagine if you didn’t brush your hair for weeks how icky your scalp would feel. Now imagine your whole body blanketed in fur. Healthy coats require frequent maintenance and a nutritious diet. Skin needs to breathe so that healthy fur and hair can regrow in a clean, mat-free environment.

Entrusting coat care to an experienced groomer with a gentle touch reaps many benefits, including your pet accepting the hands of strangers. Grooming at home has its rewards as well — you’ll save a few bucks while contributing to the health and happiness of your beloved furry.

Anita Auxer, owner of Happy Tails Grooming in Camp Hill, Cumberland County, has seen it all. She and I put our heads together to compile a list of top grooming tips to keep coats in tip top shape through the change of seasons:

•Thoroughly brush and/or comb your pet once a week. Brush against the grain close to the skin to remove dead undercoat and loose guard hairs. Well-brushed thick coats require less frequent baths.

•Don’t forget belly and chest areas when brushing out, not just the back and sides.

•Perform a total hands-on exam for sores hidden by fur or mats buried in areas such as armpits or inside of back legs.

•Bathe dogs before November, then every 6 to 8 weeks, depending how dirty the coat gets. Cats rarely need baths — their bristly tongue aids in removing dead hair — provided kitty can reach all parts of her body. If you find mats on her back, cut them out.

•Use a quality, gentle shampoo formulated for pets best purchased at your local pet supply store or grooming center. Never use human shampoo on cats or dogs. Avoid pet shampoos with a strong fragrance.

•Apply flea preventive throughout the winter. One warm day can wake up pesky fleas and ticks.

•Trim nails and foot hair short, including hair on the bottom of paw pads which can trap debris including painful snow and ice balls. Long nails can curl into paws. Trim every couple of weeks. Most grooming salons, including Happy Tails, have a walk-in nail trimming service.

•Keep coats a reasonable length in winter, but not TOO long. Breeds such as Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos and other silky haired dogs should still be trimmed or the coat will matt. You don’t want to have to shave your dog down in the middle of winter.

•Clean ears with an otic cleanser once a week. This task is often overlooked during the winter months which can lead to ear infections.

•Above all, make grooming time a “happy time.” If your pet runs at the sight of a brush, somebody is doing (or has done) something wrong.

Relax, put some tunes on, and take this special time to bond with your pet. My Newfies can’t wait to be groomed — because I make it fun!

Thus, grooming is not a chore, more a labor of love, as it should be.

Karen Steinrock is a pet columnist based in Grantham, Cumberland County. Send questions, comments and a photo of your pet to Karen at ksteinrock@comcast.net or to P.O. Box 306, Grantham, PA 17027. Please include your hometown and phone number.

Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique, the multi-award winning mobile grooming salon for dogs and cats servicing the Greater Philadelphia metro, is proud to welcome Elena Cooper to its growing team of Professional Certified Pet Groomers.

Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique

Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique is proud to announce the addition of Elena Cooper to its team of mobile pet grooming experts.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 22, 2013

Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique is proud to announce the addition of Elena Cooper to its team of mobile pet grooming experts. Cooper brings years of experience to the Avery’s team, ranging from grooming shops to mobile salons, big and small operations and everything in between. During that time, she was molded by professional groomers with nearly 30 years of experience on a variety of breeds and specialties, although her specialty is grooming sporting breeds, such as spaniels and retrievers.

Cooper joined Avery’s Pet Styling Salon to experience something new and refreshing. She exclaimed, “It is mobile! And I like the idea of charting my own course and being my own boss.” CEO and President of Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique Taria Avery agreed, “This new experience will surely broaden her horizons.” Currently, Avery’s Mobile Pet Spa operates in eight counties between Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is rapidly expanding into new territories.

Taria Avery, also a Certified Pet Groomer, is thrilled to have Cooper on board. Avery looks for dedicated, passionate and caring people to join the Avery’s Mobile Pet Spa grooming team because of the team family dynamic she’s created. She believes, “Elena definitely fits the bill – she has a heart of gold, the skill set needed and she is looking forward to spreading TLC in our clients’ homes all across the region. That’s exactly what we require from all of our groomers.”

Since its inception Avery’s Mobile Pet Spa has traveled over 65,000 miles in 5 years, grooming a few thousand fur-kids each year.

More About Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique:

Avery’s Pet Styling Salon & Boutique is the leading mobile grooming salon for dogs and cats servicing the Greater Philadelphia metro area region and southern New Jersey. Philadelphia Magazine named Avery’s the “Best Mobile Dog and Cat Groomer” in the region in 2011. Each fur-kid receives special individualized attention from Avery’s team of Certified Pet Groomers and Stylists. Avery’s pet groomer stylists are prepared to pamper dogs and cats of every breed with high quality eco-friendly spa treatments and a keen eye on the fur-kid’s health. Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique has cultivated an environment to support continuing education and training, competitive compensation, and industry mentorship for its Pet Groomers. If you interested in learning more about grooming, or starting a new career call Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique today at 877-5-Averys (877-528-3797) or send an email to admin(at)averyspetstyle(dot)com.

KAWKAWLIN, MI — A grand opening for Mario’s Cool Cats, a
nonprofit cat adoption program, and Sudzy Puppy Pet Grooming is set for 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. May 11 at Sudzy Puppy Pet Grooming, 2638 S. Huron Road. Visitors can
stop by and see the many cats waiting to be adopted as well as learn more about
Sudzy Puppy Pet Grooming services.

Mario’s Cool Cats adoption is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays
and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Feb 18, 2013) – Aussie Pet Mobile”s “King of Vancouver Island”, Glenn Rubuliak, has recently expanded the pet grooming franchise from the province”s capital of Victoria into the neighbourhoods of Surrey, Langley and White Rock. The unique mobile pet grooming service offers a convenient, affordable, reliable and efficient service to pet owners enabling them to maintain and achieve their pets” best well-being.

Aussie Pet Mobile provides personal, ”one-on-one” attention to both dogs and cats where the pets enjoy the comforting view of their own surroundings from the grooming table in the custom designed Mercedes Benz ”spa on wheels”. This ensures the pet is not spending the day ”caged” in a stressful store environment and affords the owner the luxury of not having to make repeat trips from their house to the grooming salon for drop off and collection.

“There really isn”t anything we can”t tackle with our Petmobile. It”s tricked out with all the bells and whistles to pamper just about any size or breed of canine or feline. Our clients love the fact that our spa on wheels has solar panels and requires no hook-up to electricity or water making the pet grooming service in the Surrey, Langley and White Rock area perfect for apartment residents and homeowners,” says owner Glenn Rubuliak.

Aussie Pet Mobile”s professional groomers pamper pets with a 15-step spa treatment that includes a customized shampoo, massage, hand towel dry, brushing, and nail trimming, just to name a few treats. A” La Carte pet grooming services are also available, such as an Aloe Re-Moisturizing Treatment for dry itchy skin and the ever-popular De-Shedding Treatment, known to reduce the hair seen on your floor by up to 90%.

“We”ve been asked to groom rodents, ferrets, rabbits, birds, pet skunks and even husbands! Sorry ladies, we do not offer human manicures, massages nor groom your partner. But we will happily remove the skunk smell from your dog,” laughs Rubuliak.

About Aussie Pet Mobile

Aussie Pet Mobile is the world”s largest mobile pet grooming service with over 100 locations pampering more than 20,000 pets each month across North America. Its award-winning concept has been recognized as the World”s #1 Pet Service Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and received the CFA”s coveted Franchisee”s Choice Designation award for 2012 as voted by the systems franchise owners.

Along with holiday cheer, the winter months also usher in blistering weather that can be harsh on pets. Certified Pet Groomer, Taria Avery gives pet parents tips to avoid harmful effects of the winter weather on their dogs and cats.

, Taria Avery, suggests 3 basic tips for pet parents to get started with to help keep their fur-kids healthy and happy during the winter season.

1.) Brush or Comb Your Pet 2-3 Times a Week

Keeping your pet’s coat clear of knots and matts is as important as maintaining monthly baths. Using a brush is fine, but if your pet has long curly hair be sure to use a comb and take it all the way down to the skin. For some double coated dogs, excess oils can build up in their skin and may cause dry patches that may eventually contribute to hot spots if pet parents do not pay attention to their pet’s skincare regimen. On a double-coated dog, use a brush to remove the excess undercoat and to facilitate proper air circulation to the skin.

Cats require grooming too. Many cat owners believe their cats do a good enough job keeping clean, but they too need a thorough combing to help keep their skin and coat healthy.

2.) Set Aside 15 Minutes for Essential Care

In addition to brushing or combing, essential care includes clipping nails, brushing teeth, and cleaning out pet’s ears. This should be done about 1-3 times a week depending on your fur-kid’s specific needs. During the winter season, grooming nuances tend to get put off, but to keep pesky infections at bay it is critical to maintain essential care.

3.) Maintain Exercise Habits

Don’t let the blistering winter elements stop pets from getting the exercise they need. Pet parents can create in-house solutions to make sure their pets get the required exercise. For example, allowing pets to walk on treadmills is a great way to keep pets fit. But be sure to keep the treadmill on low speed, and discuss it with your Veterinarian before putting your pet on any exercising machine.

Avery understands pet grooming is just as important during the winter months as it is during the warmer seasons. Bitter cold conditions can have a harmful effect on a pet’s skin, coat and paw pads if not properly maintained. Unfortunately, pet parents may be tempted to skip out on winter grooming sessions assuming that allowing their pet’s fur to grow full is the best protection from intense winds and cold weather.

Lastly Avery says “try to stick as closely to their normal grooming routine as possible. Make sure your fur-kid has access to fresh and clean water at all times, keep a space heater close by to provide additional warmth in the house if appropriate.” As the cold and snow set in, continue booking your regular grooming sessions, but use these tips to protect your fur-kid and supplement your existing maintenance schedule with your dog groomer or cat groomer.

More About Taria Avery of Avery’s Pet Styling Salon & Boutique:

Clients know Taria Avery, a Certified Pet Groomer, as the “Fur Therapist.” She is the President and CEO of Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique, a state-of-the-art mobile grooming salon servicing the Greater Philadelphia metro area and southern New Jersey. She holds certifications in many key areas including CPR and first aid for animals, nutrition, animal behavior, aromatherapy, etc. Avery has been featured as a pet grooming expert for various media outlets including 6ABC News’ TV program “FYI Philly”, Philadelphia Magazine, Pet Product New International, Philadelphia CN8 Network “Your Morning” show, KYW NewsRadio 1060, The Philadelphia Tribune and Philly Fit magazine. Her discussion topics included the state of the pet industry, groomer certifications and tips for pet parents on selecting a groomer. Avery’s mission is to provide peace of mind for the pet parent by enhancing the health and wellness of their fur-kids with tender loving care.

NORCROSS — Ready to add a new furry friend to your family? Well, you’re in luck.

Atlanta Animals Alive hosts its first Home for the Holidays Super Pet Adoption on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the North Atlanta Trade Center.

“We typically see an increase in adoptions during the holiday season, as adopters recognize that a break from school or work can be a great time to introduce a new pet into the home,” said Ashley J. Freedman, a founder of Atlanta Animals Alive and the organizer of the event. “A Super Pet Adoption is a great venue for rescue groups that don’t have a shelter to promote their animals to the community, and it’s convenient for adopters to meet so many pets in person, all at once.”

The event features more than 200 adoptable cats and dogs from local rescue groups and shelters. Each dog adopted at the event will receive a certificate for a free self-service grooming session or $10 off of full-service grooming from Kirkwood and Smyrna Bark & Lounge, and mobile vet Pet Fixer will offer low cost micro-chipping and rabies vaccines.

For the adoptions, each rescue group sets its own adoption policies and prices, but every animal at the event will be spayed or neutered and current on its vaccines before going to its new home.

For many years pets have been viewed by most as an extension of the family unit. From dogs, cats, birds and beyond, pets have come to be accepted as key members of the household. “Ask any pet owner or pet lover and they will tell you that their pet is truly a family member.

National Business Plan Writers (PRWEB) October 11, 2012

Whereas persons on the outside view them as nothing more than a random purchase or diversion of sorts, the true pet lover will quickly dispute this”, says

. With the increased emphasis being placed on pets in the American household, pet grooming and stores have seen an increase in popularity over the course of the last decade. “Pets have always been a valued member of American society. This has become even more pronounced as the American consumer begins to place an even higher premium on the simplicities of life following the most recent recession”, says Mr. Ferriolo.

As quiet as it has been kept, the Pet Grooming and Store segment is projected to drive $18.0 billion in 2012 with a five year projected growth rate of 4.8%. These figures point to a segment of the economy that has long-term viability and the potential to offer small business owners the very real possibility of developing successful business models. “The opportunities are favorable for operators in this segment as now more than at any point in years past as consumers are placing pet care at a premium. From grooming to purchasing to boarding, the industry is in the midst of a growth surge unlike any that has ever before been experienced’, says Mr. Ferriolo. The Pet Grooming and Store segment is growing at a rapid pace and Wise Business Plans has successfully developed business plans that meet the needs of operators. All of the business plans that are created by Wise Business Plans for clients in this sector include the following:

1. ; ; ; ;Services and product: “The more services and products the operation can offer, the better their chances for long-term success; it’s just that simple”, says Mr. Ferriolo. Grooming, boarding, pet sales and product are just a few of the revenue and profit producing opportunities that operators typically offer and ones that remain in high demand.

2. ; ; ; ;Pricing: While the emphasis being placed on pet care continues to grow, price points must remain a consideration. “Consumers are still rebounding from the recession so any operation that is sensitive to this point stands to endear themselves to their customer base”, says Mr. Ferriolo.

3. ; ; ; ;Reputation: Pets are in fact viewed as an extension of the family unit. With that being said, pet owners are looking for operations that are willing to respect their pets in this manner. “Pet owners are demanding operations that take pride in their operations, respect and view their pets through the same prism that they do. Operations that are willing to take this approach will be the ones that benefit both from a short and long-term perspective.

Pet grooming and stores are becoming a more and more important piece of the American economy. As consumers place pet care at a higher premium, the need for these types of operations will only increase. When the time comes to begin offering your unique brand of services, let the professionals at Wise Business Plans handle all of your business plan needs!

About Wise Business Plans

Wise Business Plans is a professional business plan writing company that creates custom pet grooming business plans. The firm is committed to increasing the fundability and growth rate of businesses through strategic planning. To learn more, visit http://www.wisebusinessplans.com or call 1-800-496-1056 to schedule a consultation.